Between March 11 and 16, Sfântu Gheorghe became the center of international youth work as StartUp HUB hosted the Erasmus+ training titled “Cultural Awareness and Social Inclusion Through Dramatic Arts.” Forty youth workers from ten countries – Romania, Hungary, the Netherlands, Albania, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia – gathered to learn together about acceptance and breaking down cultural barriers.
The core element of the training was art-based sensitization. During the professional program, participants mastered the tools of the Stanislavski method and drama pedagogy. Trust games, non-verbal communication exercises, and the conscious use of body language not only strengthened group cohesion but also provided practical knowledge that participants can apply in their home countries when working with youth from disadvantaged or minority backgrounds. The scenes developed during the stage work highlighted how the power of theatre can dismantle social stereotypes and build empathy across different cultures.
The training placed significant emphasis on the local context: participants learned Hungarian cockade-making from local craftswomen, visited the Red Cross, and gained insight into the activities of the VET Center operating under StartUp HUB. Participants also experienced the power of community solidarity firsthand in the main square of Sfântu Gheorghe during the March 15th national celebrations. In the final stage of the training, they led their own workshops, proving their methodological preparedness and creativity.
The professional journey was completed by deepening their knowledge and enjoying shared leisure activities: participants visited Săcele, where they were introduced to a cohesive youth community at the Barcasági Csángó Foundation, and later bid farewell to Transylvania with a sightseeing tour in the historic city center of Brașov. In recognition of their hard work, everyone was awarded the Youthpass certificate, which validates the new professional competencies acquired during the training. For the StartUp HUB team, it was an inspiring experience to host this international cooperation, which, beyond the knowledge gained, created true community values and lifelong friendships.
